First Down

On a weekend when every road team is favored, the Eagles have the all-around abilities to win and cover. Eagles at Vikings, 4:30 p.m., Chs. 5, 45

ON WASHINGTONTIMES.COM ” AN EXCERPT FROM OUTLET

Wizards beat reporter Mike Jones offered some thoughts after the Wizards‘ blowout loss to the Celtics on Friday night:

The bad thing for the Wizards is they’re so shorthanded that, unless they play basically a perfect game, they have no chance. They don’t have enough horses, don’t have enough experience, don’t have the offensive firepower, don’t have the defensive stoppers.

“Our margin for error is so, so small,” Caron Butler said dejectedly. “It was just a rough night at the office.”

Butler and Antawn Jamison were trying to remain positive after the game, but you can tell it’s getting harder and harder as each loss comes.

Jamison said he’s looking forward to Sunday’s game against Cleveland so the Wizards can get the taste of this loss out of their mouths. But he noted: “2009 is starting off just the way 2008 did, isn’t it?”

And the company line from Ernie Grunfeld is that Gilbert Arenas is coming back, but the growing sentiment in the locker room is that it’s not going to happen.

“It doesn’t look like anybody’s coming back this year,” one player said. “Nobody. I don’t think so. I’d be surprised.”

TWT FIVE ” MORE CLASSICS

The NHL will keep the Winter Classic tradition going. Here are some ideas for the next few New Year’s Day events: